Electric switch.



R. V. COLLINS. ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1909.

Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

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APPLIOATION FILED JULY 14, 1909. 1 ,070,777.

Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

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R. V. COLLINS. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

. APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1909; 1,070,777,, Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

L Q 1| I I IHII HHHH I IIHIIH WITNESSES: I l/VVE/VTOR ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROY V. COLLINS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN AUTOMATICSWITCH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Roy V. COLLINS, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the borough of Manhattan of the city of New York, in thecounty and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electric Switches, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part hereof.

The improvements relate particularly to that type of electric railwayswitch in which two magnets are provided for moving the switch tongue,one for moving the tongue in one direction and the other for moving thetongue in the opposite direction. These switches are usually employedwith a line cont-act breaker, which is a device located upon the trolleywire and through which current is delivered to the switch mechanism andalso to the car as the trolley passes over the same. Thus, through themedium of the line contact breaker, the motorman is able to control theposition of the switch tongue, as he approaches it, by drawing currentinto the car, or by coasting along as the trolley rides upon the'line'contact breaker, according as he may desire the switch tongue to occupyone position or the other.

One object of the present improvement is to provide a simple mechanismto be interposed between the line contact breaker and switch tonguewhereby the latter may be moved quickly and surely into its properposition, upon the delivery of current to said mechanism.

Another object is to provide the mechanism with an improved sealingvdevice so related to the switch tongue as to prevent the entry of mudand water into the box containing said mechanism.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the improvedmechanism and the circuits involved therein. Fig. 2 is a view inlongitudinal section through a box containing most of the switchmechanism. Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section through the same box.Fig. 4: is a view in elevation of a pole box with the cover opencontaining some of the switch mechanism, and, Fig. 5 is a view intransverse section through said box.

Referring first to the diagram in Fig. 1,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. July 14, 1909.

Patented Aug. 19,1913.

Serial No. 507,465.

it will be seen that the line circuit breaker is indicatedconventionally at a and the two switchoperatingmagnets, one for movingthe switch tongue in one direction andthe other for moving it in theopposite direction, at Z) and b respectively. Leading from a conductoron the line circuit breaker in electrical contact with the trolley wireis a circuit 0 which includes a fuse m and a solenoid c, said circuitbeing bridged by the trolley wheel as the latter passes over the platesat and a of the line circuit breaker. Continuing, said circuit extendsthrough a fuse f and then divides into three paths branching from thepoint 9 as follows: path 1 leading through contacts h to magnet i) andthence to ground; path 2, leading through contacts a to magnet Z) andthence to ground; and path 3, leading through contacts s to magnet b andthence to ground. Contacts h are normally bridgedby a contact switch 77.attached to the core of the solenoid e and when the mechanism is not inoperation this switch rests down by gravity upon contacts 72,. Contacts11. are normally bridged by a pivoted arm n which, when the mechanism isnot in operation, rests down by gravity upon these con tacts, and whichis adapted, when the energization of the solenoid is sufficient to raiseit, to bridge the contacts 8.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the trolley bridges theplates a and a of the line circuit breaker, current will be deliveredover the circuit 0 and, as the parts are in the position shown in figurewhen the trolley reaches the line circuit breaker, the current willfollow both the paths 1 and 2 and deliver current into both magnets 19and 6. Immediately, however, as this condition is established, thesolenoid 6 will operate to lift the contact switch it and break thecircuit through path 1 whereby the magnet b will become operative andmove the switch tongue. This latter condition is dependent however uponthe switch arm a remaining down upon the contacts 12, to preserve thecontinuity of the circuit through path 2. If the solenoid e, on theother hand, were strong enough to raise the arm n, then the circuitwould be closed through path 3 and opened through path 2, wherebycurrent would be delivered to magnet b' and the switch tongue moved inthe opposite direction. Now, the solenoid 6 will or will not be strongenough to raise the arm it, according as the motor-man does or does notdeliver current to the car when the trolley rides upon the line circuitbreaker; for when the car takes current the amperage of the currentthrough the solenoid will be considerably greater (since not only doesthe current which passes through the magnet 7) or b, whatever the casemay be, pass through the solenoid 6 but also the current that passesthrough the car, as current can pass through the car, when the trolleywheel is on the strips (4 and a only by passing through the solenoid 6since the plat-es or strips a and c on which the trolley wheel rests areinsulated from the trolley wire) than when the car is not in circuit asit is obvious that the only current passing through the solenoid c, atthat time, is the current passing through magnet b and therefore theresistance of the circuit is accordingly much greater.

The advantage of employing the connection represented by path 1 is thatthe switch tongue will always connnence to move in the right direction,for in this way current will first be delivered to both magnets o and b,and then cut out of the one which should remain inoperative during thethrow. In other systems, it often happens that the parts are left, uponthe preceding actuation of the switch, so that upon the next actua-'tion a momentary current will be delivered into the wrong magnet andstart the switch tongue in the wrong direction. This is an undesirablefeature of this type of switch and should be avoided.

Referring now to 2 and 3, it will be seen that the magnets I) and Z) areinclosed in a box and that the common core of these magnets isoperatirely connected to a vertical shaft (Z the upper end of whichextends through the cover of the box for connection with the switchtongue. In my U. S. Letters Patent No. QOSGi'T, dated January 5, 1909,there is shown and described a seal for the upper end of this shaft toprevent the entrance of moisture and dirt into the box. In the presentcase the walls of the cup '2' containing the mercury forming the sealare built up above the cover and the upper edge of the cup is above thelevel of the lower or under side of the switch tongue. in this way themoisture and dirt which enters around the top of the shaft is kept fromworking into the sealing cup, for the bank of mud which forms up to thelevel of the bottom of the switch tongue is swept out before it reachesthe top of the cup. The annular projection 7': secured to the top of theshaft (Z is provided to enter the cup as in the case of the apparatusdescribed in said Letters Patout. With the exception of the above theconstruction for separating the switch tongue from the core of themagnets Z) and Z) is substantially the same as that shown and describedin said Letters Patent.

Figs. ti and 5 show a specific embodiment of the current controllingmember comprising the solenoid e and movable contact-s separated therebyand these figures illustrate how part of the improved mechanism such asthe fuse and the solenoid 6 may be located in a pole box above theground as will be readily understood. The current comes in over line 1through fuse m, passes through solenoid 0, over line 2 onto plate a,from thence through trolley wheel onto plate a thence to line 3, throughfuse f where cur rent goes momentarily through contacts h and 12 but,when the current is off in the car, immediately upon the solenoid ebecoming energized 72/ is lifted, opening circuit at 72, and allowingthe circuit to be completed through magnet Z). Now when the current ison in the car the same thing occurs except that the current passing overwire 1, fuse m, solenoid e and wire 2 is much greater as not only doesthe current just described pass over these wires but also all thecurrent that goes through the car; therefore the current passing thesolenoid 0 being so much greater in this case, not only lifts 72, but issufficient to also lift a and thereby open circuits at a and 7t andcomplete a circuit at s which energizes magnet b. I claim as myinvention:

Ill 1. The combination wlth a switch tongue,

of a mechanism for operating said tongue, said mechanism including asealing cup with sides extending above the level of the underside ofsaid tongue.

2. The combination with a switch tongue, of a box, operating mechanismfor the switch tongue in said box, a shaft extending through the top ofsaid box and operatively connecting said mechanism and the switchtongue, a cup around the shaft and having sides extending above the topof the box to a level above the underside of the switch tongue, and anannular projection upon the shaft extending down into the cup.

3. The combination of a housing, a movable switch member, operatingmeans therefor in the housing, means connecting the operating means andmovable switch member, said connecting means comprising a movable memberwhich extends through the housing, the housing carrying a member whichsurrounds the movable member, extending through the housing, and whichextends above the bottom of the movable switch member, and a liquid sealbetween the movable member and the member surrounding the same.

i. The combination with a switch tongue, of a mechanism for operatingsaid tongue, said mechanism comprising an operating lever, a movablemember therefor within a housing, an annular member surrounding themovable member and carried by the housing said annular member extendingabove the free end of the lever and a'liquid seal between the housingand movable member.

5. The combination of a conductor, plates or members insulatedtherefrom, electrically operated means to move contact members, saidmeans electrically connected to the conductor and one of the plates ormembers, a second and third electrical operating means, three contactmembers the first and third of which are electrically connected to thesecond operating means, the second of which is electrically connected tothe third electrical operating means, means to electrically connect thesecond plate or member with the three contact members, said meanscomprising movable contact members operated by the first mentionedelectrical operating means; the parts being arranged to operate asfollows, when the plates are not electrically connected and therefore nocurrent is passing through the first mentioned operating means thecircuits having the first and second set of contacts will be closed;when the plates are electrically connected current will pass through thefirst mentioned operating means sufficient to cause the opening of thecircuit having the first set of cont-acts by the movement of the movablemember therein; and when the plates are electrically contacted and acomparatively large amount of power is being withdrawn therefrom thefirst mentioned electrical operating means will receive a larger amountof current than heretofore and will open the circuit-s having the firstand second set of contacts by moving the movable members in said setsand will close the circuit having the third set of contacts by movingthe movable member thereof.

6. The combination of a conductor; members or plates insulated from theconductor, three sets of contacts comprising contact members referred toas contacts number one, number two and number three; electricaloperating means for opening and closing circuits; and a second and alsoa third electrical operating means; the difi'erent elements of thecombination being connected as follows, the first mentioned electricallyoperating means to and between the conductor and one of the plates; theother plate to one member of each of the contact members; the secondelectrical operating means to the other members of contacts one andthree; the third electrical operating means to another member of contacttwo; the first mentioned electrical operating means opening and closingthe circuits including the contact sets as follows, when the plates arenot electrically connected circuits having contact sets one and two areclosed; when the plates are connected without power being drawntherefrom for use of means other than those mentioned the firstmentioned operating means operates to open the circuit having the firstset of contacts but leaves the circuit having the second set of contactsclosed; and when the plates are electrically connected and power iswithdrawn therefrom for means the current passing through the firstmentioned operating means will be sufiicient to cause the opening of thecircuits having contacts one and two and will close circuit havingcontact three.

7. The combination with a switch point of a box having an intermediatehorizontal partition extending the full length and width of the box, avertical shaft which passes through said partition, the upper end ofwhich shaft is operatively connected to the switch point and the lowerend of which is operatively connected with operating mechanism locatedbelow the partition but within the box, a liquid seal cup surroundingthe shaft, the sides of which cup extend above the partition.

8. A street box containing switch point operating means, said box havingan upper portion and a lower portion separated by a water-tightpartition, electrical operating means in the lower portion of the box, ashaft extending from the lower to the upper portion through saidpartition, and means for preventing dirt and moisture from entering thelower chamber, said means comprising a liquid seal and a fiange orannular member extending above the upper surface of the partition.

This specification signed and witnessed this 13th day of July, A. D.,1909.

ROY V. COLLINS.

Signed in the presence of S'rnaus E. VARNEY, GRACE MoGnAMM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

